Naval Operatives Nab 3 Oil Thieves In Bayelsa

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Sunday, June 7th, 2015

By IGNATIUS OKPARA – Men of the Central Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy, have nabbed three suspected oil thieves in Ekeremor Council Area of Bayelsa State.

Our Correspondent gathered that the alleged oil thieves said to be operators of illegal refineries and had two of their boats christened, “Emmanuel”, were rounded up on June 4.

Dropping the hint to newsmen on Saturday, the Flag Officer Commanding, CNC, Rear Admiral Stanley Ogoigbe, said that eight pumping machines allegedly used by the suspects to steal the product were seized by the security operatives.

The Naval chief, who handed the suspects to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for prosecution, stated that they were apprehended along the creek of Bilabiri in the west senatorial district of the state.

The suspects he said, were tricked into taking a naval patrol team to an illegal refinery camp in the deep mangrove.

He said their speedboat with the inscription, “Emmanuel”, gave them away as it tallied with another previously recovered by the navy at the illegal refinery camp.

Ogoigbe expressed the determination of the command and other security organization to intensify the ongoing war against crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other criminal activities in the Niger Delta region.

He therefore, solicited the cooperation of the public in the war against economic sabotage, which is really affecting the nation.